CHAPTER 3: CHAPTER 3: WANT ME TO FEED YOU?

Early the next day, Seraphina Thorne got up and carefully applied some light makeup.

After changing clothes and going downstairs, the driver Uncle Alden came in, holding a paper bag of takeout.

"I brought some milk and bread. Would you like me to heat some for you?"

"No need, I have to head out soon."

Seraphina took out a prepared envelope from her bag and held it out to Uncle Alden with both hands.

Uncle Alden was taken aback. "Miss, what is this for?"

"This is your salary for the month, please take it." Seraphina pushed the envelope towards him. "Uncle Alden, thank you for everything these past few days. I wish I could pay you more, but... please don’t find it too little. I’m sorry."

Uncle Alden stepped back, refusing to take it. "Miss, you need money now, let’s talk about this later."

Seraphina held onto his arm, forcing the envelope into his hand.

"You don’t need to come by anymore either. We don’t have a car at home anymore, so I won’t need a driver. And this house, I can’t keep it; I’ll be moving to the school dormitory in a few days."

She picked up the bag with her brother’s clothes and quickly went down the steps.

She knew Uncle Alden was a good man, not minding missing a few months’ salary.

But now that things were like this at home, with even the car seized by the bank, a driver was no longer needed.

After the Thorne Family incident, everyone avoided her.

Only Uncle Alden stayed by her side, helping her. He had his own family to support, with both elder and younger generations, so she couldn’t burden him anymore.

Exiting the villa’s gate, she stood by the roadside, watching taxis speed by.

She extended and then retracted her right hand.

Currently, her account balance was less than six figures.

Her father was still in the ICU, costing tens of thousands a day, so she had to save money where she could.

Taking out her phone, she checked the map for the nearest station and walked quickly towards it.

It was the morning rush hour, and the subway station was packed.

Seraphina struggled to squeeze into the subway, and then encountered traffic again while taking the bus.

After jogging from the bus stop to the civil affairs bureau entrance, it was already close to eight-thirty.

She looked around but didn’t see Ethan Sterling, and her heart tightened.

Had he left because she was late?

"Are you Miss Thorne?"

A young man in a suit, with a gentle demeanor, approached with a smile.

"I’m Sean Hale, Mr. Sterling’s assistant. Mr. Sterling is waiting for you in the car."

Seraphina sighed in relief and followed Sean Hale to the roadside.

Only then did she notice the understated yet luxurious sea-blue Phantom.

Sean Hale opened the rear door, and Seraphina immediately saw Ethan Sterling sitting in the back seat.

In a three-piece black suit, the contrast made the man’s complexion as jade-like as ever.

Sitting in the back seat, Ethan exuded the noble aura of someone in control from head to toe.

He was leaning back in his seat, scrolling through his phone, and as Seraphina got in, she inadvertently glanced at his screen.

He seemed to be looking at a photo, of a girl.

A fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl in youthful bloom, dressed in a white dress with flowing hair...

She looked quite similar to Seraphina, who had just gotten in.

Seeing Seraphina, Ethan locked the screen.

Seraphina didn’t get a clear look at the girl’s face in the photo.

Sean Hale closed the car door and remained outside.

Ethan placed the document from his lap in front of her.

"This is the prenuptial agreement."

Seraphina was not surprised.

The two were only entering into a partnership, not a true marriage.

It was understandable for him to protect his assets with a prenuptial agreement.

Taking the document, she carefully read through it.

The contract was clear; her shares would be managed by Ethan after marriage, but the profits or losses were still hers. Ethan wasn’t exploiting her.

Her hands froze when she noticed the line "The second party is required to fulfill marital duties."

Ethan glanced at her delicate fingers, pinching the contract.

He rolled the unlit cigarette between his fingers.

"I’m not a Sir Galahad, Miss Thorne can reconsider if you have second thoughts."

If Adrian Chamberlain was a despicable wolf, then Ethan Sterling was a lion.

Domineering, direct.

He never hid what he wanted.

Seraphina pursed her lips, not looking at the rest of the content, and directly signed her name on the last page.

Handing the document to Ethan, she pushed open the car door.

"Let’s go, get the certificate."

Whether marrying Ethan would just be jumping into another fire pit, she wasn’t sure.

Zenith Group was her father’s life’s work, and no matter what, she couldn’t let Adrian Chamberlain take it away.

Even if it meant...betting on herself!

Photo.

Filling forms.

Getting the certificate...

The entire process took less than twenty minutes.

Getting married was far simpler than Seraphina had imagined.

Holding the freshly issued marriage certificate, walking out of the civil affairs bureau, Seraphina felt a surreal sensation.

Just a few months ago, when she was engaged to Adrian Chamberlain, she had been filled with expectations.

To marry Adrian Chamberlain after graduation and become a happy Mrs. Chamberlain.

Who would have thought, she’d now be holding a marriage certificate with Ethan Sterling, the rival of her ex-fiancé.

Truly, the world is unpredictable.

Ethan paused at the steps. "Where are you going? I’ll give you a ride."

Seraphina gathered her thoughts, "No need to trouble yourself."

Someone like Ethan had precious time, Seraphina was well aware.

Being over half an hour late had already made her feel guilty; she couldn’t impose further by asking for a ride.

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Don’t forget, you’re Mrs. Sterling now."

Seraphina: ...

She almost forgot that she was now a married woman.

"I need to go back to school to take care of some things."

Initially, she had received a full scholarship to an overseas music academy.

A year of studying abroad would have allowed her to continue her advanced studies directly.

But due to family matters, she gave up the opportunity to study abroad.

Necessary paperwork still needed handling at the school.

Ethan opened the car door, courteously shielding her head.

"It’s on the way, hop in."

His tone was not a question.

Why miss out on a free ride when it’s better than squeezing into the subway?

Seraphina, not playing coy, sat in the back seat.

On the way?

Sean Hale twitched at the corner of his mouth.

His boss was clearly saying something without any groundwork for a lie.

They had a meeting at Sterling, and were already running late; detouring to the music school would take at least an extra half hour.

The car headed towards Jadeston Conservatory of Music.

There was some traffic, and the car moved in stops and starts.

Worried about being late, she had skipped breakfast, causing her blood sugar to drop slightly.

Feeling a bit dizzy, she rummaged through her bag.

But found nothing.

In her rush to leave that morning, she forgot to bring sugar.

A hand extended towards her.

Between distinct fingers was a half-peeled chocolate candy.

Did he know she had low blood sugar?

Seraphina turned her face, her gaze following the hand to its owner – Ethan Sterling.

"This is our wedding candy."

Wedding candy?

Though it was just a shady deal, he still maintained a sense of ritual.

Seraphina gave a self-deprecating smile.

It made sense; they didn’t have much interaction at school, so how could he know about her low blood sugar?

Seeing her not eat the candy, Ethan raised an eyebrow.

"Do you want me to feed you?"